Hi Folks,
>>James
>>>it is not the major differences which would decide the matter
>>>as, if Jerome was as tradition says influenced by a Hebrew
>>>Christian who claimed superiority of the hebrew text, he would
>>>have been familiar with the major differences and have made
>>>a point of translating these.
Steven
>>So you are defacto agreeing that on hundreds of verses Jerome's
>>Vulgate agrees with the Masoretic Text and not the Greek
>>OT. Essentially that ends the thread discussion and puts your
>>original theory of Vulgate affinity with the Greek OT against the
>>Masoretic Text in the circular file.
James Read
>No! Not exactly. That's not really what I said now is it?
Steven
Yes.
The point of the thread was largely a response to your false theory,
given earleir.
>James Read J.Read
>Jerome (4th century) claims to have based his Vulgate translation on
>the Hebrew text yet there is more agreement with derivative
>manuscripts of the Latin Vulgate with the aforementioned dead
>sea scroll texts, the Greek versions and the Samaritan Pentateuch
>than with the MT
ORIGINAL POST
** ... more agreement with derivative manuscripts of the Latin
Vulgate with the aforementioned dead sea scroll texts, the Greek
versions and the Samaritan Pentateuch than with the MT ***
Steven
You may have some new theory, however as far as I am can tell you
have abandoned this error and have moved on elsewhere.
James Read
>I said that these major differences are not really a good measure
>for how close the text is to the MT. I based this on the reasoning
>that if somebody with a limited knowledge of Hebrew wanted to
>convince folk that he was translating from a superior Hebrew text
>then he would pay special attention to these well known major
>differences that were made known to him via the Hebrew Christian
>who first turned his attention to this text.
Steven
As I pointed out, there is tons of literature about Jerome's Hebrew
competence. Just because Exodus 3:14 is a major scripture verse here
on this forum does not make the major one then, especially compared
to whole sections of scripture that were different. You are welcome
to research whether we have any extant Jerome commentary on Exodus 3:14.
James Read
>I suggested we look at the minor differences instead to really
>put this to the test. My example, was not an example which shows closer
>affinity to the Greek text. This example is not closer to the Greek
>text which evidently attempts to put idiomatic sense above
>grammatical structure and literal word for word translation. It was
>an example which puts to the test Jerome's claim that he too gave
>priority to the overall sense of the text.
Steven
I am sure you and virtually any analyst, can find a few dozen
possible criticisms of Jerome's translation, however they are
irrelevant to the OP.
James
>if Jerome really did consider the Hebrew text to be superior
Steven
Since Jerome specifically wrote this in discussion with Augustine,and
in other literature, taking a lot of flack in the process in
Christian circles, your implication that it was not his actual belief
is a bit strained.
James
>then hy is he following the Greek tradition of replacing YHWH with Dominus?
Steven
What translation would you consider more accurate ? We have many
English Tanach's today, Jewish and Christian and mixed, that follow a
similar viewpoint. Clearly, that does not mean these dozens of
English versions (including the KJB and the JPS) are following the
Greek text instead of the Hebrew Masoretic text.
James
>Even in the Greek tradition we find older fragments where
>the tetragammaton exists. In all the fragments of Vulgate that I am
>aware of there is not even a hint of a transliteration of
>the tetragrammaton. I am willing to admit that the transmission of
>the Vulgate may be corrupt and older version may have included this.
Steven Avery
Again, none of this is relevant to the OP. Feel free to make clear
your new theory for discussion. Rolf and others will gladly discuss
the discussion of the Tetragram in early fragments. I might even
join in, as I have in the past. Not, though, if it is masked as an
attempt to show something clearly false -- that Jerome was
translating from Greek rather than Hebrew.
James
>Again, if we really need to pursue this to its depth I would
>suggest looking to the minor textual variants as an indication of which text
>Jerome made most use of. I don't really have time at the moment. If
>you don't have time either then remind me in a month or so and we'll
>go into this in more depth.
Steven
As I said, you are welcome to take a dozen smaller smaller examples
to go along with the dozens of larger examples, all of which will
disprove your OP theory. Taking the one most currently
doctrinally-charged verse is an extremely poor methodology to
determining anything about Jerome.
Consider yourself reminded that you were actually going to study the
texts, rather than simply misrepresenting Stefan Rebenich to be
wondering whether Jerome actually knew Hebrew. Rebenich is very
clear that Jerome was Hebrew-competent, and studied Hebrew with
Jewish teachers, the only issue is whether he was fluent and whether
he may have given the impression to Augustine and others that
overstated his competence. Personally I have not seen a single quote
from Jerome on these issues that is not sensible and consisteent.
Shalom,
Steven Avery
Queens, NY